Conaty Steel Ltd is a one-stop shop for all your farm building requirements. Based in Boyerstown, Navan, Co. Meath, the family-run business has 45 years’ experience in the design, fabrication and installation of farm as well as industrial, commercial and equestrian steel buildings of all sizes and budget.
Brothers Kevin and Peter Conaty established the company in the mid-1970s and they have since been joined by their sons Colm and Gerry along with 12 staff, who are involved in fabrication and erection. The second-generation business has grown to become a leading provider of steel buildings in the Midlands and East, and also supplies buildings in kit form to customers nationwide.
“We started out fabricating and erecting farm buildings. Coming from a farming background ourselves, we were well-known in local farming circles and that led to us getting lots of recommendations,” Colm Conaty says.
“We quickly earned a reputation for providing top-class products and workmanship at affordable prices, while also ensuring peace of mind both during and after construction as many of our satisfied customers will testify. After a few years, we branched into equestrian buildings and then industrial and commercial units, including retail parks and filling station forecourts and canopies.
“From an industrial point of view, we’re lucky to be on Dublin’s doorstep because that’s where most of the construction is taking place. We also supply structural steel to new house builds, which are increasingly being fitted with bigger window and glass panels.”
Despite having a wider range of clients than ever, farmers still make up about half of Conaty Steel’s customer-base. Colm explains: “Ten years ago, when there were generous grants available to build slatted sheds, 90% of our customers were farmers. These days, our work is evenly divided between farm buildings and commercial / industrial units.
“Since the milk quotas were lifted in 2015, some of the dairymen have gone very big. They’re not farms anyone – they’re enterprises. We used 120 tonnes of steel in a new milking parlour in Skryne, Co. Meath recently which gives you an idea of how large-scale dairy farms are becoming.”
Conaty Steel can provide a tailored service to suit each customers’ needs, including supply of raw materials only; supply of kit form; supply and erect structural steel and cladding; complete project development from design stage to fully operational end use; maintenance of buildings and yards; restoration and preservation of existing steel buildings; asbestos removal; steel stockholders; cladding stockists.
“We can fabricate and erect any size of building to your design, or assist you in designing it to suit your requirements. If you prefer to erect your own shed, we can cut and supply fabricated steel and accessories to order. We usually work off Teagasc and Grasstec drawings when it comes to designing farm buildings. It goes without saying that only the best products go into making our sheds and buildings. That’s one of the reasons why we get so much repeat business.”
All Conaty Steel personnel are fully-trained and experienced, while all works are fully insured and comply with current Health & Safety regulations. In addition, all plant and machinery are fully tested and certified. The company also provides current tax clearance certificates and invoices for clients to claim VAT repayment. Registered and unregistered farmers are eligible to claim VAT refunds. For grant-aided projects, works are carried out to Department of Agriculture specifications and certificates are provided. Conaty Steel can design, fabricate and install any farm building, including slatted beef units, dairy cubicle sheds, milking parlours and collecting yards, calf sheds, pig houses, poultry houses, haybarns, grain stores, silage pit roofing, machinery stores and garages and workshops.
The Conatys recently extended their own state-of-the-art workshop which is equipped with everything from precision-cutting bandsaws and rollers to welding plant, cranes and forklifts.
“The extension has allowed us to process bigger pieces of steel at ease and has made the workshop a lot safer. We have a top-class team of fabricators and erectors who are highly-skilled at what they do. It’s a real team effort.”
Conaty Steel is a certified supplier of CE marked structural steel to the requirements of EN 1090 up to and including Execution Class 2 (EXC2) which covers the fabrication of all farm buildings and structural steel used in general construction. Since July 2014, under the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), it has been a legal requirement that fabricated structural steelwork delivered to construction sites must be CE certified.
“Anyone who isn’t CE certified shouldn’t be in this business. A farmer can’t apply for grant aid if he or she is not dealing with a CE certified company,” Colm points out.
“While it cost a lot of money to become CE certified and required substantial investment in new machinery, it has helped us to become a more modern company and has opened up new markets for us. Everything is traceable when you’re CE certified.”
Conaty Steel is a member of the IFBA (Irish Farm Buildings Association) which was founded in 1961 and draws its members from farmers, industry, trade and professional organisations. The IFBA’s objectives are to promote knowledge of, and interchange of views on matters pertaining to farm buildings and the countryside; to see further improvement in farm buildings’ design and layout; to provide guidance to farmers; to conduct practical research in farm buildings; to be aware of changing trends in other areas.
The Co. Meath-based structural steel specialist is committed to providing a top-quality product and service at the most competitive price. All of its buildings are solid, secure, attractive in appearance and are built to last a lifetime.
In conclusion, the Colm says: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers and suppliers for their support and business over the last 45 years. Many of them have been very loyal to us, with the result that we have gained a lot of repeat business. We won’t be beaten on quality, service, reliability or price.”
Conaty Steel Ltd
Boyerstown,
Navan,
Co. Meath.
Telephone: 086 6007775 / 086 8212005
Web: www.conatysteel.ie
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 7 No 5, September/October 2019
